Accordion with auxiliary keyboard



March 20, i 951 1.. R. STAHL ACCORDION WITH AUXILIARY KEYBOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 8, 1949 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT FlCE ACCORDION-WITH AUXILIARY KEYBOARD Leroy R. Stahl, Duluth, Minn.

Application June 8, 1949, Serial No. 97,890

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to accordions and has special reference to an improvement in the keyboard of an accordion.

It is well known, among accordionists, that some chords are very difficult to reach while playing, especially those at the extreme ends of the keyboard and it is sometimes necessary to twist one's wrist considerably to form some chords. It is one of my principal objects to provide an auxiliary keyboard of black keys only which will make the playing of an accordion much easier.

Another object is to provide an auxiliary keyboard of black keys whichoperates in such a manner that it will not interfere with the use and operation of the regular keyboard of black and white keys.

Another object is to maintain a good appearance in an accordion equipped with my auxiliary keyboard.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent as the description of the invention proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application:

Fig. 1 is a broken perspective view of a portion of an accordion showing my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a key assembly embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the keys installed in the accordion housing.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the strip which holds the key'separators in place in the accordion keyboard housing.

In the drawing the reference numeral I indicates the housing of the sound chamber of the accordion and 2 indicates the keyboard housing.

The white keys 3 of the accordion are similar to the ordinary accordion keys, and need no further explanation here as the invention pertains particularly to the black keys.

The black keys 4 are conventional in shape and placement and are pivotally carried by the rod 5 to operate conventionally, there being a clapper rod 6 provided to raise the clapper when the key is depressed.

My invention comprises anauxiliary key I for each of the black keys 4, placed in the keyboard housing 2 outwardly of the white keys as seen in Fig. 1, each of the auxiliary keys being substantially aligned with its respective conventional key, and the auxiliary keys being preferably grouped in the same manner as the conventional keys.

The keyboard housing 2 is provided with a recess or socket I4 to receive each auxiliary key I, and each key 7 is provided with an arm or lever 8 which extends forwardly therefrom and lies in alignment with its respective key 4. The lever for each key is pivoted intermediate its ends on a rod 9 similar to the rod 5, and the forward end of each lever is disposed adjacent an enlarged portion ll] of its respective key 4, see Figs. 2 and 3, and is adapted to engage said portion IE forwardly of the fulcrum of the key 4. This arrangement, it will be seen, will cause the clapper rod 6 to be operated by depressing either the key 4 or the auxiliary key 1. When the key 4 is depressed, there will be no movement of the key 1, however when the key I is depressed, the key 4 will also be depressed due to the forward end of the lever 8 engaging the forward end of the key 4 forwardly of the fulcrum of the key 4 and thereby causing the key 4 to be depressed.

A spring II is provided intermediate the lever 8 forwardly of its fulcrum, and the inner face of the key 4, rearwardly of its fulcrum, to provide for automatic return of either or both black keys to normal position.

A separator wall I2 may be provided between the keys as shown, held down by a strip l3, to keep the keys separated, guide same in their movements, and to provide a bearing for the pivot rods 5 and 9 as shown.

Cushions are provided to absorb the shock of moving parts when contacting other portions of the accordion and to quiet the action of the keys, as is common in the art.

It is deemed apparent, from the above, that if a difiicult fingering reach is required during the playing of an accordion equipped with my auxiliary keyboard wherein the wrist must be twisted to an awkward position, the same may be accomplished by utilizing the auxiliary keyboard of black keys which is readily accessible for use in such occasions. It also will be much easier to play some of the more difficult runs which at present require more agile fingers.

It is believed that less skilled accordion players will be able to play more of the more complicated and difficult music with my accordion than they can with the conventional accordion, and they will be able to render a better quality of music due to the greater ease of playing.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

-In combination with an accordion having a standard keyboard composed of a plurality of white keys in parallel abutting relation, and a plurality of groups of black keys spaced adjacent the inner ends of said white keys and normally extending above the latter, portions of said white keys extending between said black keys: a plurality of groups of auxiliary keys corresponding to said black keys and carried on said keyboard outwardly of said white keys, said auxiliary keys being alined with said black keys, each of said auxiliary keys having a lever extending forwardly therefrom and under its respective black key to adjacent the forward end of the latter, said levers being pivoted intermediate their ends whereby the depressing of an auxiliary key will raise the forward end of its lever to engage the forward end of the corresponding black key and cause the latter to be depressed to play the accordion, and spring means to return said keys to normal position when released.

LEROY R. STAHL.

10 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Reuther June 4, 1940 Number 

